How to Write a Recommendation Letter for College

You need to write a letter of recommendation for a student who is applying to college. How do you write a powerful letter of recommendation? What do you include? What if you don't want to write for this person?

First, only write a truthful letter of recommendation. Do not exaggerate someone's abilities. Don't attack someone, either. If you cannot honestly write a winning letter of recommendation, tell the student politely that perhaps another person would be a better choice to write the letter.

Before you write a recommendation letter, learn details about what the student had done and what the student would like to do in college and after. Try to determine what you can write that other letters of recommendation won't include. Ask for a specific person you can address in the letter. As the purpose of the recommendation letter is for college, ask about activities, volunteering, and honors or awards. Ask to see the student's personal statement so you can support and elaborate on its themes.

WhiteSmoke writing software helps you write a powerful recommendation letter that includes correct English grammar. Its synonym software will strengthen your writing. The best proofreading software on the market will assure you of writing a winning letter of recommendation. Our English writing software includes English grammar checker, English spelling check software, dictionary, thesaurus with synonym finder, and writing templates for specific types of writing such as business writing, legal writing and medical writing.

A letter of recommendation ought to be addressed to a specific person by name, using a polite address, if possible. If this is not possible, then address it to an appropriate committee or position. For example: Dear Admissions Committee (for a recommendation letter for a student).

Start by writing about how long you have known the person for whom you are writing the recommendation letter. Write in what capacity you have known the person? were you a teacher, a boss, a co-worker? Write in this part of the letter of recommendation about how well you know the person as well.

Opening paragraph before WhiteSmoke:

Dear Whoever Reads this letter:

Jane is a good person and a good worker. She deserves just desserts, the best. Please leter her into your schoolb. She worked here 5 years and that was a little while ago but we had a good time. She comes to work on time?

After WhiteSmoke:

Dear Dr. Lieber:

It gives me great pleasure to recommend Jane Wyatt to you. Ms. Wyatt worked with me at Alpha-Bet Company for five years, three of them under my supervision. She showed initiative, determination, and a strong work ethic. Her curiosity about the world and our business led her to read about our field on her own time. She showed me a couple of articles she found at the library that I still consult.

Next, write a few well-chosen facts that convey the person's skills, abilities and experiences. Most experienced writers of a recommendation letter don't express an opinion without supporting details. This is the heart of the letter of recommendation and may take a few paragraphs. A letter of recommendation should not be more than two pages, though.

Besides emphasizing this student's accomplishments, your letter ought to show how your observations of this student demonstrate the contributions he or she will make to the school. If you know about particular honors, awards, or special notice the student received, be sure to mention these. If you've known other students who attended this school and can compare this student favorably with them, do so (you need not mention them by name). If you've seen the student showing exceptional talent, mention this, too.

Conclude your winning letter of recommendation with a brief summary. Mention specifically the college, graduate school, or other recipient of the letter. Offer to be available to discuss your recommendation. WhiteSmoke writing software will help you with this and many other writing tasks.